Device for connecting a gas-operated appliance and a gas cartridge

ABSTRACT

A device for connecting gas equipment to a valve of a gas cartridge, having a tap body fixed to the gas equipment, an axial coupling ring fixed to the body of the tap and having at least one elastic lug which can engage radially in a groove of a valve of the cartridge, a rotary locking ring which can occupy a locking position in which the rotary ring keeps each lug engaged in the groove and a release position in which the rotary ring allows each elastic lug to be disengaged from the groove, and a cylinder having a tube which can override the shut-off device of the valve, wherein the rotary locking ring has radial coupling means which can interact with complementary radial coupling means provided on the gas cartridge valve, so that the device can be moved from a locking position to a release position by the rotation of the cartridge.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of French Patent ApplicationNumber 06.03512, filed Apr. 20, 2006 and PCT/FR05/02598 filed Oct. 19,2005 which claims priority to French Patent Application No. 04.11089filed on Oct. 19, 2004, all of which are incorporated herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a connecting device for gas equipmentand a gas cartridge having a valve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of portable cooking, lighting and do-it-yourself equipmentoperating with pressurized combustible gas cartridges, the system forconnecting the equipment to the cartridge is of crucial importancebecause of the danger that may be caused by a leakage of gas or bydisconnection of the equipment from its cartridge.

Gas cartridges have been used for many years; a typical gas cartridge isa metallic container holding pressurized combustible gas, into which avalve is crimped. This valve provides access to the gas contained in thecartridge.

The connecting device of the equipment has two functions. On the onehand, it physically retains the equipment on the cartridge, while on theother hand it simultaneously opens the valve while forming a seal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Documents EP A 278 873 and EP A 981 005 disclose two coupling systemswhich use flexible fastening lugs which are engaged in an annular grooveof the valve formed when the valve is crimped on to the cartridge. Theflexible lugs are locked in the groove of the valve and make theequipment inseparable from the cartridge.

These coupling systems are satisfactory on the whole, but their fittingrequires a degree of care on the part of the user.

The object of the invention is therefore to propose a device forconnecting gas equipment and a gas cartridge, operating by this system,which can be fitted simply and easily.

Another object of the invention is to maintain the compatibility of thecartridge with existing gripper-type connecting systems, particularlythe connecting systems described in EP A 278 873 and EP A 981 005, butalso with connecting systems in which the connecting device is intendedto be screwed onto the cartridge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of theinvention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention.This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is notintended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or todelineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to presentsome embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude tothe more detailed description of some embodiments that are presentedlater.

The invention essentially proposes a device for connecting gas equipmentto a valve of a gas cartridge, comprising:

-   -   a tap body fixed to the gas equipment,    -   an axial coupling ring fixed to the body of the tap and having        at least one elastic lug which can engage radially in a groove        of a valve of the cartridge,    -   a rotary locking ring which can occupy a locking position in        which the rotary ring keeps each lug engaged in the groove and a        release position in which the rotary ring allows each elastic        lug to be disengaged from the groove, and    -   a cylinder having a tube which can override the shut-off device        of the valve,    -   wherein the rotary locking ring has radial coupling means which        can interact with complementary radial coupling means provided        on the gas cartridge valve, so that the device can be moved from        a locking position to a release position by the rotation of the        cartridge.

The essential principle of the invention is that the rotary ring of thedevice is rotated by the cartridge itself.

This is because the cartridge is the most bulky component of the systemformed by the cartridge and equipment, and is therefore the easiest tograsp. Moreover, a considerable torque can be applied by rotating thecartridge.

In one embodiment, the rotary ring has at least one radial notch.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the rotary ring has aplurality of radial notches on its periphery.

To retain the device securely on the cartridge, the axial coupling ringhas a plurality of elastic lugs, each having a coupling rib at its end.

In one possible embodiment, the axial coupling ring has three elasticlugs, positioned at intervals of 120°, each having a coupling rib at itsend.

The locking of the elastic lugs is made possible by the fact that therotary locking ring has a plurality of heels, each of which can be madeto bear on a lug of the coupling ring.

In a possible embodiment, the rotary locking ring has three heelspositioned at intervals of 120°, each of which can be made to bear onone lug of the coupling ring.

In an advantageous arrangement, a stop is adjacent to at least one ofthe heels.

Preferably, a stop is adjacent to each heel.

According to a preferred characteristic, the rotary ring has at leastone axial rib which can snap into at least one axial groove formed inthe inward-facing surface of an elastic lug.

To reset the device to its release position, elastic return means areinterposed between the coupling ring and the rotary ring, the returnaction of these means tending to make the rotary ring return to therelease position.

In a possible embodiment, a spring is interposed between the couplingring and the rotary ring, and its action tends to make the rotary ringreturn to the release position.

To enable the state of the device to be indicated to a user, the devicehas means for visually signalling the position of the rotary ring.

In one embodiment of the device, the coupling ring has a skirt in whichis formed an aperture revealing a locking symbol provided on the rotaryring when the device is in the locking position and revealing a releasesymbol provided on the rotary ring when the device is in the releaseposition.

The invention also relates to a liquid combustible gas cartridge,comprising a container having an opening blocked by a valve, the saidvalve having a circular radial bottom wall which supports a centralshut-off device and lateral cylindrical axial wall which has, at itsconnection to the container, an annular groove surmounted by an annularbead, wherein the axial wall has at least one radial coupling meanswhich can interact with complementary radial coupling means provided ina rotary ring of a connecting device for gas equipment, enabling thedevice to be moved from a locking position to a release position by therotation of the cartridge.

In a possible embodiment, the axial wall of the valve has at least oneradial tooth.

Preferably, the axial wall of the valve has a plurality of radial teeth.

Additionally, the coupling means are adjacent to the circular radialbottom wall. Advantageously, the valve also comprises means forscrew-fastening a connecting device for a gas-operated appliance.

Preferably, the screw-fastening means comprise a screw thread formed onan axial cylindrical wall of the central shut-off device.

Thus, the cartridge according to the invention also allows forcompatibility with existing screw-fastened connecting devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

To enable it to be understood more clearly, the invention is describedwith reference to the attached drawing which shows, by way of exampleand without restrictive intent, an embodiment of a device for connectinggas equipment and a gas cartridge according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the connecting device and of thecartridge, the cartridge being represented in partial form.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connecting device,

FIG. 3 shows the connecting device facing the cartridge,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken through IV-IV in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a view of details of the connecting device,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cartridge according to a secondembodiment of the invention, with half the cartridge cut away,

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a second connecting device,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the second connecting device with halfof it cut away, and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the third connecting device with half ofit cut away

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, various embodiments of the presentinvention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specificconfigurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent toone skilled in the art that the present invention may be practicedwithout the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may beomitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment beingdescribed. In addition, to the extent that orientations of theembodiments are described, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,”“right,” and the like, the orientations are to aid the reader inunderstanding the embodiment being described, and are not meant to belimiting.

In the first place, it will be recalled that the connecting device forgas equipment relates to all types of portable gas equipment such asheaters, burners, lamps, barbecues or do-it-yourself equipment. The gasequipment is not shown in the drawing, but can be any of theaforementioned types of equipment.

A first type of connecting device according to the invention will bedescribed first.

Reference should be made to FIG. 2 initially.

As shown in this figure, the connecting device comprises, firstly, a tapbody 2, in other words a metal part used to open or close the gaspassage. This tap body 2 has a conventional structure.

A coupling ring 3 is engaged with this tap body 2. This coupling ring 3can be made from a plastics material or other materials, and has threelugs 4 positioned at intervals of 120°. Each of the lugs 4 has aprojecting rib 5 at its free end. Each of the lugs has a longitudinalgroove 6 formed in its inner surface.

It should also be noted that the coupling ring 3 has a skirt 8 in whichan aperture 9 is formed. An important point to note concerning thecoupling ring is that it is fixed to the body of the tap. In otherwords, the coupling ring is not allowed to rotate with respect to thebody of the tap.

A rotary ring 10 is engaged with the coupling ring 3. This rotary ring10 can be made from plastics material and is approximately cylindrical.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 5, the rotary ring has heel 11 on itsouter face; in the example shown, this heel 11 has a stepped structureand is surmounted by a longitudinal rib 12.

It should also be noted that each heel 11 has a radial stop 13 next toits edge.

The rotary ring has a plurality of radial notches 14.

In the example shown, these radial notches 14 are formed on a collarlocated at the base of the rotary ring.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the rotary ring 10 can turn between aposition in which the elastic lugs 4 have a radial release space, thisconfiguration being shown more particularly in FIG. 5, and a position inwhich, after the rotation of the rotary ring, each of the elastic lugs 4bears on a heel 11 of the rotary ring 10. The rotation of the rotaryring 10 is limited angularly by each of the stops 13.

The final component of the connecting device is a cylinder 16 of metalor other material, which supports a tube 18 for pushing the shut-offdevice, the function of this tube being explained below. This metalcylinder 16 is fixed in the body of the tap 2 and retains the rotaryring by means of a shoulder 19.

It should also be noted that a spring 20 is interposed between thecoupling ring 3 and the rotary ring 10, the action of this spring 20tending to place the rotary ring in a position in which the lugs 4 canflex.

A second device, shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, re-uses the same elements asthe first. It additionally comprises a seal 32 intended to be housed inthe cylinder 16, at the bottom of the housing intended to accommodatethe shut off device 25.

The cartridge according to the invention, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, has,in a conventional way, a container 22 whose opening is blocked by avalve 23.

This metal valve 23 has a circular radial bottom wall 24 which supportsa central shut-off device 25 and a lateral axial cylindrical wall 26.The valve is joined to the container 22 by means of an annular groove 27surmounted by an annular bead 28. The shut-off device 25, which is notshown in the drawing, has a conventional structure, in other wordscomprises a plug pushed by a spring.

The valve 23 has a plurality of teeth 29 in its axial wall.

The first or second device and the corresponding cartridge are used inthe following way.

The connecting device, with the gas equipment on top of it, is broughttowards the cartridge, as shown in FIG. 3.

Each of the notches 14 of the rotary ring 10 is penetrated by a tooth 29formed in the axial wall of the valve, while the ribs 5, one of which isprovided on each elastic lug 4, engage in the annular groove 27 of thevalve 23.

It should be made clear that this engagement of the ribs 5 in theannular groove 27 is possible because the action of the spring 20 withwhich the device is provided tends to place the rotary ring 10 in aposition in which the elastic lugs 4 are radially disengaged.

However, it should be noted that the invention can be applied withoutthe spring 20, in which case the user himself controls the locking andrelease positions of the rotary ring 10.

As the device is engaged with the cartridge, the tube 18 bears on theshut-off device 25 and allows the gas to pass towards the body of thetap 2 and ultimately towards any gas equipment.

The user then simply has to grasp the cartridge and turn it with respectto the connecting device. This movement is extremely simple and isfacilitated by the fact that the cartridge has a large diameter and theuser can therefore apply a considerable torque.

At the end of the rotation, each elastic lug 4 bears against a stop 13of the rotary ring 10, and consequently each elastic lug 4 bears on aheel 11, while the groove 6 formed in the inner surface of each elasticlug 4 snaps on to the longitudinal groove 12 provided in the rotary ring10. This snap fitting can be accompanied by an audible and tactilesignal corresponding to the overcoming of a “sticking point”, whichindicates to the user that the device has been locked.

The user can also be informed of the completion of locking by the factthat the aperture 9 formed in the skirt of the coupling ring reveals apictogram printed on the rotary ring, indicating that the locking iscomplete and that the equipment can be used.

The invention thus provides a connecting device and a liquid combustiblegas cartridge whose use is highly intuitive, since the locking tool usedis the cartridge itself, which is the object having the largest size andwhich a user can use naturally and intuitively.

It should also be noted that the device has a reduced number of parts,which makes this solution advantageous in mechanical and economic terms.

According to a second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the valve comprisesjust two teeth 29 and the central shut-off device comprises an axialcylindrical exterior wall that has a screw thread 30.

The cartridge according to this second embodiment, by virtue of thescrew thread 30, allows for connection with a third connecting deviceshown in FIG. 9. These are connecting devices of the screw-connectiontype for gas-operated appliances, in particular in accordance withEN417, class 2, with a standard tapped thread 33 in accordance with7/16′-28 NS.

In this case, the connecting device comprises a cylinder 34 supporting atube 35 for pushing the shut-off device, as before. The cylindercomprises an internal tapped thread 33 intended to collaborate with thescrew thread 30 of the cartridge in order to secure the connectingdevice and the cartridge.

Another advantage which should be mentioned is that the cartridgeaccording to the invention is compatible with existing devices havingelastic locking lugs.

Clearly, if the cartridge is used with a pre-existing connecting device,the rotation of the cartridge will not lock the device.

Clearly, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above,but covers all possible embodiments. Numerous variants can be devised inrespect of the radial connecting means of the cartridge and the rotaryring.

In particular, it would be possible to devise a simple flat formed onthe rotary ring corresponding to a flat formed in the longitudinal wallof the valve.

Other means of indicating the locking of the device can also beprovided. In particular, it is possible to extend one or all of thethree stops 13 with a finger which could be revealed by an openingformed in the skirt of the coupling ring when the device is in thelocking position. An LED illumination system can also be devised toindicate the completion of locking of the device.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “Connected” is to beconstrued as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joinedtogether, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of rangesof values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method ofreferring individually to each separate value falling within the range,unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value isincorporated into the specification as if it were individually recitedherein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitableorder unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplarylanguage (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to betterilluminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitationon the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language inthe specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimedelement as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

1. A device for connecting gas equipment on a valve of a gas cartridge,comprising: a body of a tap fixed to the gas equipment, an axialcoupling ring fixed to the body of the tap and having at least oneelastic lug which is intended to engage radially in an annular groove ofa valve of the cartridge, a rotary locking ring, rotary in relation tothe axial coupling ring, which is intended to occupy a locking positionin which the rotary locking ring keeps each elastic lug engaged in thegroove and a release position in which the rotary locking ring allowseach elastic lug to be disengaged from the groove, and a cylinder havinga tube which is intended to override the shut-off device of the valve,wherein the rotary locking ring has radial outwardly coupling meanswhich are intended to interact with complementary radial coupling meansprovided on the gas cartridge valve, so that the rotary locking ring isintended to turn between the locking position and the release positionby the rotation of the cartridge in relation to the connecting device.2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary locking ring hasat least one radial notch.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe rotary locking ring has a plurality of radial notches on itsperiphery.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axialcoupling ring has a plurality of elastic lugs, each having a couplingrib at its end.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein theplurality of elastic lugs is three elastic lugs positioned at intervalsof 120°.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary lockingring has a plurality of heels, each of which is intended to bear on alug of the axial coupling ring.
 7. The device as claimed in claim 6,wherein the plurality of heels are positioned at intervals of 120°. 8.The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a stop is adjacent to at leastone of the heels.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein a stop isadjacent to each heel.
 10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein therotary locking ring has at least one axial rib which is intended to snapinto at least one axial groove formed in the inward-facing surface of anelastic lug.
 11. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10,wherein elastic return means are interposed between the axial couplingring and the rotary locking ring whose return action makes the rotarylocking ring return to the release position.
 12. The device as claimedin claim 11, wherein the elastic return means is a spring.
 13. Thedevice as claimed in claim 1, which has means for visually signallingthe position of the rotary locking ring.
 14. The device as claimed inclaim 13, wherein the axial coupling ring has a skirt in which is foamedan aperture revealing a locking symbol provided on the rotary lockingring when the device is in the locking position and revealing a releasesymbol provided on the rotary locking ring when the device is in therelease position.